Lighters



F. PERLJN LIGHTERS Jan. 29, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed April 30, 1954jzwenZoz" Fred Per/2'72 United States Pate "ifi'isnso 1 LIGH'rERs FredPerlim: cono1nowoc, to The Parker Pen Company; .l'ari'esville, Wis., acorporation of Wiscousin 7 H 7 Application April'30f195'4, Serial No;426,783 7 Cratin cl'f M -711) The present inventiontrelatesto"liglitersof thetype commonly employed for "lighting cigars and"cigarettes,

' and'has to do particularly Withnovel' actuating mechanism forproducing sparks 'and'con'tro'lling flow of fuel' from a tank inthe-lighterto a'p'osition for lighti'ng.

An object of the invention is to provide a'lighterha'ving meansactuatable by'the hand forf'produci'ng 'sparks, and

novel means for eifecting rapid and uniform'actuation of the sparkproducingmeans in response tomovemen't'of the character usually producedby'the hand.

the friction wheel is frictionally retarded in the. foreportion of thesingle hand movement, and rapidlyrotated in the latter portion of thehand movemenu A'further object is to provide in a 1igh ter,a flint and amovable friction element friction'ally engageable with the flint, and ahand actuated means for movingthe friction element, wherein resilientmeans is interposed between the hand actuated means and frictionelement,- the friction element is frictionally retarded in the foreportion of the movement of the hand actuated'elem'ent in response towhich energy is stored in the resilient means whiereup'on in the latterportion of the movement of the hand actuated element, the energy storedin the resilient means effects rapid movement of the friction element. I

Another object is to provideya lighterhavingafuel tank and valve meansfor controlling flowof fuel from the tank to a position for lighting,wherein novel means is provided for controlling the valve means, 7 i

Still another object is to provide alighter havihg' spark producingmeans and valvemeans for controlling flow of fuel from a tank to aposition for'lighting, both actuated and controlled by hand actuatedmeans, wherein a novel arrangement is provided for opening'thevalvemeans immediately prior to production of the sparks in a singlemanipulating movement of the hand. 1, p

A further object is to provide a' lighter havihga fuel tank, and conduitand valve means'for controlling'the flow of fuel from the tank to aposition for lighting, anda flint and movable friction elementengageable' therewith for producing sparks, wherein hand manipulableineahs is provided for actuating and controlling the valve means andfriction element in a single hand movement',"a'n*d said manipula-ble'meansincludes a rigid'eleme'nt elfec'tive' for opening the valve meansbeginning substantially concurrently with movement of the manipulablemeans, and resilient means is interposed between, the manipulable meansand friction element, enabling a frictional retarding of the lirictionl,element in the 'I'f th m n pu m 'fand storing of energy in the'resilient'means whereupon d' afterthevalveis pened the energy stored inthe 5" 3 resilient means eflect rapid movemeritofthe friction elemeritfor'producingsparksand directing them into a stream' of fuel issuingfrom;th e'conduit means.

Still another object is to provide a lighter having an improvedconstruction of chassis and casing.

A further o'bjec'tisto provide a lighter, having an improved chassisincjluding f'op e'rating parts, especially ing the casing resection; V

f Fig. 2 is an' enlarged, horigoiitalfsectional view taken online 2 -2of Fig. l, 'showing the' -driving member and associated parts inina'c'tiveor retracted position; v

Fig. 3"is anenlarged, horizontal sectional view taken on line 3i3'ofFig'l, and showing the driving member and associated parts in advancedor 'a'ctive position;

Fig; 4' is a fragmentary vtewnken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showingtheupperpo'rtion of th'e'lighter;

' :Fig. 5 is 'anenlarged'sectior'ial view taken substantially 'online5--5of Fig; 1, the fueltank being shown in eleva- Fig; 6 is-afragmentary sectional view taken on line Fig.' 7fis"an explodedpers'pee'tive view of certain of the o'p'eratin'g"parts of "the" lighterincluding the sparking whcel'arid associated elements" and the means formount- "ingthem.

" Referring" in detail"to the drawings;the lighter includes ac'hassis'10'which carries all of'the operating parts, and

' a"'fcasing '12 in which the "chassis" is enclosed except for anactuating member'which projects through an opening Sin the casing to theexterior for enga'gemen t by the hand for operating the lighten Thecasing '12 is dimensioned in "suitable proportions as shown in Figs. 1and 2, and includes a lower or base portion 14 and a cover or cap 16.iremovably and frictionally held on the lower portion. The lowerportion '14 constitutes the major portion and .is preferably ofrelatively deep cup-shaped form, while vthe cover or cap,alsoicup-shaped, is preferably of lesser height. 1 An upward extension18 of the lower portion of the casing serves as" a means forfrictionally retaining theicover or cap on the lower'p'ortion. Forconvenience in"'manufacturingnthe extension 18 may be formed as aseparate sheetmetal strip secured as by soldering to the inner surfaceof the lower portion 14 adjacent to the top thereof andp'rojectingthereabove. The alignment strip 18 extends falongat least twosides of the casing and is frietionally. engaged by the inner'surface'of thecover for normally retaining the "cover-on the portion 14, thecover being flush withthe lower portion' when 'fitted thereto. .As shownin Figs. Zand 3 the alignment strip extends substantially alon'gtwosides, and a .short portion of a ,thi rd.side. The cover 16,i'sprovidedfwith a top opening 5 .ber 26 whichris Positioned ,forengagement by the hand or thumb ron-moving, it; inwardly "and, operatingthe lighter. .Theehass sl l cludesa monnt gp 28 serving as a basernemberior ,rneans for mounting all of the operating,parts of thelighter. The plate hasv outline 5.. usion simila t tellengthi-anibreadth of th s- ;;.ing and, arch) a oncdnfo tengagem tattitssdg s with the respective wall surfaces of the casing. The plate28 thereby is retained in the casing against displacement in anydirection in the plane thereof. The plate 28 is retained against oneside wall of the casing by means of :a mounting member or shelf 30 whichalso serves to mount and support certain of the operating parts of themechanism of the lighter. The mounting member 30 is preferablypositioned adjacent the upper portion of the plate so that it isdisposed adjacent the top open end of 111C lower portion 14 of thecasing when the chassis is positioned therein and is of appropriatewidth in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the plate for engage-Jnent with one side wall of the casing for retaining the chassis in thecasing.

Since the plate 28 is appropriately dimensioned in length and width forengagement with the respective walls of the casing including the cover,it projects through the open top of the lower portion of the casing whenthe cover is removed, whereby the upper end of the plate serves as ameans for grasping by the hand for removing the chassis, and all theelements mounted thereon, out of the casing. The plate 28 and casingcover 16 are provided with registering apertures or slots 31 below thetop opening 20, for supplying air for combustion for the fianre at theburner tip which is disposed below the top opening 20, as will bebrought out in detail hereinafter. The mounting member 30 is mounted onthe plate 28 in any suitable manner such as by means of screws 34, andincludes a flint holder 32 integral therewith or sepa rate therefrom andsecured thereto, as desired. The mounting member 30 at one end is spaceda short distance from the tuating member 26 to allow movement of thelatter toward and from the former, and at its other end extends adjacentto or into engagement with the extension or alignment strip 18 where itis bifurcated and provided with a slot 36 opening through the end of themember to receive the, stem 46 of a fuel tank 38 to facilitate removaland replacement of the fuel tank which is also supported by the mountingplate 28 in a convenient manner. Suitable means for mounting the fueltank is provided which may include a bracket 40 adjacent the bottom ofthe plate on which the tank rests, and a spring clip 42 secured to theplate and arranged for gripping the tank when the tank is inserted inthe position as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. When the plate 28 is removedfrom the casing the tank may be removed from its position shown bymovement in the appropriate direction (to the right), in which movementthe stem 46 on the tank is withdrawn through the open end of the slot36. The fuel tank is restrained against movement on the plate 28 by thespring.

clip 42 in one direction and when the chassis carrying the tank isinserted in the casing the tank is restrained against movement in theopposite direction by suitable means such as an abutment 44 formed onthe casing and against which the tank snugly engages so that the tankwill be maintained in appropriate position and against displacement fromthe desired position.

The fuel contained in the tank 38 and utilized in the lighter isliquified or compressed gas, normally in gaseous state, but liquifiedwhen contained in the tank and passing out of the tank in gaseous form.The fuel tank includes a suitable filling valve 45, and suitable controlvalve means and an outlet conduit for controlling the flow of fuel fromthe tank to a position under the top opening 20, the flame therefromprojecting through the opening for purposes of lighting a cigar or acigarette. The valve means may take any suitable form and may forexample take the form shown in section in Fig. 4 having a stem 46terminating in a burner tip 48. The stem is positioned immediately belowthe top opening 20 and extends through the slot 36 in the mountingmember 30. The stem 46 serves as a control member for opening andclosing the valve, being arranged so that upon upward movement of thestem the valve is opened and upon downward movement the valve is closed.This arrangement is utilized for control and actuation of the valve bymeans of a longitudinal driving member 70 in the mounting member 30. Thevalve structure includes a cup-shaped member 50 positioned and sealed inan opening in the wall 52 of thetank 38 and having an aperture 54 in thebottom wall thereof. The stem 46 extends slidably through an aperture 56in a nut-like cap 58 screw threaded in the cup 50. Mounted on the lowerend of the stem 46 is a valve closure element 60 yieldingly urged intoengagement with a resilient gasket or washer 62 by means of acompression spring 64 surrounding the stem and compressed between thevalve closure element 60 and the cap 58. When the stem 46 is raisedfuel, in gaseous form, flows through the aperture 54, between the gasket62 and closure element 60, through a radial bore or aperture 66, andinto bore 68 and through the burner tip 48. When the lifting force isremoved the compression spring depresses the stem whereupon the valveclosure element 60 engages gasket 62 and closes the valve. The burnertip 48 is preferably of larger external diameter than the stem 46,providing a downwardly facing shoulder for engagement by the drivingmember 70 slidably mounted in the mounting member 30.

The mounting member 30 is provided with a downwardly openinglongitudinal groove 72 (Figs. 4 and 6) extending throughout the lengththereof and which at its upper portion is enlarged transversely at '74forming a channel in which the driving member 70 is slidably mounted.The driving member 70 is slidably moved to advanced position (to theright as viewed in Figs. 1 to 4) by means of the actuating member 26. Ifdesired, a headed screw 76 may be mounted in the end of the drivingmember for engagement by the driving member. The driving member isyieldingly urged in the opposite direction to retracted position bymeans of a tension spring 78 connected at one end to a pin 80 mounted inthe driving member and extending downwardly through the groove 72, andat the other end to a cross piece 82 suitably secured to the undersurface of the mounting member 30. The cross piece 82 is preferablyformed separately from the mounting member, thus facilitating formationof the groove 72 by a machining operation, after which the cross pieceis secured thereto.

The driving member 70 is limited in movement in both directions bysuitable means such as a stud 84 secured therein and extending upwardlythrough a slot 86 in the mounting member. The stud 84 also serves as ameans for securement of one end of a yieldable and resilient element 88in the form of a leaf spring member for actuating the sparking member aswill be described more fully hereinafter. The driving member 70 carriesan upstanding pin 151 which projects through a slot 158 in the mountingmember 30 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

A second cross piece 90 is secured to the under surface of the mountingmember 30 adjacent the slot 36, and preferably extends to the end of themounting member, being provided with an open-end slot registering withthe slot 36. The cross piece 90, similarly to the cross piece 82, ispreferably formed separately from the mounting member and securedthereto after formation of the groove 72. The cross piece 90 serves as astop means for engagement by the cap or head 58 of the valve means inthe tank for positioning the tank and limiting upward movement thereof,this feature having particular importance in positioning the burner tip48 vertically relative to the driving member 70. The driving member 74)at its end adjacent the slot 36 is bifurcated to form a slot 92, theside portions 93 formed thereby straddling the valve stem 46 and eachhaving an inclined upper surface 94 forming a camming means forengagement with the burner tip 48. Upon movement of the driving member70 in advancing direction (to the right, as viewed in Figs. 1 to 4) thecamming surface 94 engages the shoulder on the burner tip 48,raises thevalve stem and opens the valve (Fig. 4) allowing fuel. to flow -up'through the burner tip to be ignited by sparks fronsthe friction wheelor sparking wheel 96 which is positi'onedfor delivering or projectingsparks into-the streamor column of fuel issuing from the burner tip.

The flint holder 32 is preferably of minor transverse dimension relativeto themountingmember 30, and is provided with a longitudinalpbore 9amwhiehi's'slidably mounted a flint 100; One end of thebore 98 is adjacentthe friction wheel 96 and the fiintis yieldingly urged through the endof the. bore; intoengagement with the friction wheel by suitablemeans'such as-a coil spring 102 compressed between the fiintandascrewplug 104 threaded in the oppositeend of the-bore-. Upon removal ofthe chassis from the casing andswinging theactuating member 26downwardly out of its upright position, the screw plug 104 andspring-102 can be removed" from the bore for insertion of anewflint-therein, after which-the spring and screw plug are replaced inposition. The-flint and friction wheel are appropriately positioned sothat upon rotation of the friction wheel (clockwise as; viewed in Figs.2 and 3) sparks are thrown by-the wheel into the stream of fuel issuingupwardly from-the burner tip 48.

The friction wheel or sparking'wheel: 96 and" certain associatedelements are mounted on the mounting member 30 and retained in properposition by ahorizontal overhanging arm portion 106 formed on the flintholder 32 and overlying the adjacent'end ofthemountingmember. Thefriction wheel 96 isprovided with a. knurled peripheral surface forproducing the sparks as is usual in friction wheels. Formed on the undersurface ofthe friction wheel. area plurality of=teeth 108 adapted forcooperation with a one-way clutchmember 110--and each having an inclinedsurface for enabling the'latter to ride over the teeth in retractingdirection.

The clutch member 110' takes the-general form of a split ring having abody portion 112 lying; substantially in a plane, and a clutchingfinger-114 benbupwardlyfrom the plane. The clutch member is formed-ofspring metal whereby the clutching finger 114 jlSyieldable-a-ndflexible, and capable of being flexed downwardly towardthe plane of the body. Upon release of the force it flexes upwardly intosubstantially the position shown in Figs; l and-7 for engagement withthe teeth of thesparking wheel.- A notch 116 is formed in the bodyofth'e clutch' member for reception of an axially extending pinllsjona'pinion 120 utilized for driving the clutch member and therebythe friction wheel. The friction-wheel, clutch member and pinion are,assembled together on a bolt12 2 forming a fixed shaftinsertedthrough abearing opening in the overhanging arm 1&6 and; threaded into atapped-hole in the mounting member 30. Preferablythe shaft 122 has alower reduced threaded portion 12 4-forming a shoulder 126. engageablewith the mounting member when the bolt is threaded into place in themanner mentioned for limiting the extent to which the bolt-isthreadedinto the mounting member. The friction Wheel, clutch member andpinion are so dimensioned inaxial direction that when they arestacked'and assembledthe space between the overhanging arm and mountingmember allows slight relief or play. for enabling the clutching finger114 to ride over the teethon the friction wheelwithout being entirelydepressed into the plane of the body of the clutch member, the normalresiliency of the clutching finger 114 serving to retain the assembledvelements in proper positions axially of the bolt orshaft, If desired, a,semicircular or crescent piece 128.,may be secured on the mountingmember for at least partially surrounding the pinion 120.

The friction wheel 96,. as noted, is rotated by the'clutching member 110which in turn is rotated'by the pinion 120. The pinion 12.9v is rotatedbyan arcuate rack 130 formed on an arm .132 pivotally mounted as at134on the mounting member30 adjacent the side of'the latter opposite theaxis of the sparking wheel; Aslot 135:may be provided in the flintholder for accommodating the 6 swinging movements of the rack.The-resilient leaf spring member 88-referred to above is pivotallysecured at 136 to the arm 132 and is-operative for swinging the arm andrack abouttheir mutual pivot axis in response to longitudinal' movementof the leaf spring 88' which in turn is moved-by the driving; member 70upon advancing movement of the latter (to'the right, as viewed in Figs.1 to 4a Fig. 3 shows the drivingmemberin advanced position). Uponmovement of the leaf spring member 88 in advancing direction, the rackarm 132 is swung in' a counterclockwise direction, and the pinionrotated ina clockwise direction, The pinion 120, through. engagement ofthe pin 1-18in the notch 116, rotates-the clutch' member 110. Uponrotation ofthe clutch member the clutching finger 11 4 engages one ofthe teeth 108 on the'friction wheel and rotates the latter. Thus sparksare produced and" thrown ordirected toward'the fuel from the burner tipas mentioned above. Upon release of the force moving'the drivingmemberin advancing direction, the driving-member and leaf-spring member areretractedby the spring 78- (Fig. 4-)' whereupon the rack is retractedinclockwisedirection to'its initialposition (Fig. 2). The latter actionrotates the pinion 120 in counterclockwise direction, andtlie springclutch finger 114 rides over the teeth 10.8.:on the friction wheel, thelatter normally being retained against reverse rotation'by thefrictionengagement between itself and the flint. The clutchmember istherebyrotated relative to the frictionwheel whereupon the clutchingfinger 1'14 moves into .a position for engagement' with a successivetooth on the friction wheel for rotating the latter upon a subsequentrotation of the pinion and. clutch member in advancing'direction.

The actuating member 26, which may be made of plastic, may take any.suitable form and construction. Preferably it is in the formcf a levermounted for swing.- ing movement on a pivot axis adjacent its lower end,as bya lug 138 provided with an aperture receiving a pin or stem-140'suitably mounted onthe' plate 28. Preferably the arrangement is suchthat the actuating member may be slid off the pinswhen the plate isremoved from the casing. Adjacent the upper end and on the inner surfaceOf the actuating member 26 is a stop member 142 of suitable shapeengageable with the casing at the marginal edge, of the opening 24 forlimiting outward movement ofthe actuating'member. Preferably and asherein shown the actuating member does not have positive connection withthe driving member 70 but loosely engages the latter to facilitatemovement of the actuating member to a: position for replacing anexpended flint, as mentioned above, and'to facilitate. removal of theactuating member from the pin 140.

It will be recalled that the valve of the fuel tank is openedand thefriction wheel rotated both in response to advancing movement of thedriving member 70. However,'the valve element and the friction wheelassume different kinds of movementthrough the range of movementofthedriving member. During the same advancing'movement of the driving memberin any given operation of the lighter the valve is opened before thefriction wheel is rotated. This relationship is of importance inconnection, with two features of the invention, one of which is thatsince the valve is opened before the friction wheel is rotated fuel willhave had an opportunity to'flow upwardly from the burner tip so that itcan be ignited when the friction wheel is rotated, and the other is thatrotation of the friction wheel is momentarilyfrictionally retardedduring an operation of the lighter whereby it is later rotated rapidlywhen the retarding force is overcome. The driving member '70 is rigidand hence raising movement of the valve stem begins substantiallyimmediately upon the first increment of movement of the driving memberand hence the valve begins to open immediately to allow a stream of fuelto flow upwardly out of the burner'tip to be ignited when the frictionwheel is laterrotated.

The friction between the flint and friction wheel tends to preventrotation of the wheel, and the effect is transmitted or propagatedthrough the means for rotating the wheel including the rack arm 132, andthe provision of the yieldable spring member 88 enables the frictionwheel to be held against rotation by the friction in the fore portion ofthe movement of the driving member 70. During such movement of thedriving member, the spring member 88 is bowed upwardly as shown in Fig.4 and tensioned, to thereby store energy which is later utilized to movethe rack as hereinafter explained. Just before the driving member movesinto its forward limit position (Fig. 4), the pin 151 strikes againstthe adjacent edge of the rack arm 132, and exerts a rotational forcethereon suflicient to overcome the frictional resistance between theflint and the friction wheel and initiate rotation of the rack arm 132.The spring member then resumes its former shape and actuates the rack130 with consequent continued rotation of the friction wheel. When thestatic friction is thus overcome, the sudden release of energy stored inthe spring member causes rapid rotation of the friction wheelindependently of the movement of the driving member 74). The speed ofrotation of the rack is greater than if the spring member 88 were notused and the rotation was that produced by the movement of the member26, as moved by the hand of the user. The speed of rotation of thefriction wheel is substantially independent of the speed of movement ofthe member 26 so long as the latter is held against retracting movement.In the operation of the lighter the user may thus impress a usual forceon the actuating member 26 without regard to any necessity for rapidlyrotating the friction wheel, and in response to a usual andsubstantially uniform movement of the actuating member 26 by the hand orthumb, the rapid rotation of the friction wheel, after the initialretarding effect, is produced.

I claim:

1. In a lighter, a fuel tank, means for conducting fuel from the tank, aflint, a friction element in contact with said flint and movable in anadvancing direction to produce sparks and direct them toward fuelissuing from said tank, means yieldingly urging said flint intoengagement with said friction element and establishing a static frictiontherebetwen constituting the principal restraint against movement ofsaid friction element, a resilient element drivingly connected to saidfriction element, and manually movable actuating means operativelyconnected to said resilient element and resiliently acting therethroughduring the fore portion of advancing movement of said actuating means tourge advancing movement of said friction element against the restrainingforce of the static friction between said friction element and saidflint, said actuating means having a portion drivingly engaging saidfriction element upon completion of the fore portion of advancingmovement of said actuating means to positive- 11y move said frictionelement in advancing direction.

2. In a lighter, a fuel tank, means for conducting fuel from the tank, aflint, a friction wheel in contact with said flint and rotatable in anadvancing direction to produce sparks and direct them toward fuelissuing from said tank, means yieldingly urging said flint intoengagement with said friction element and establishing-a static frictiontherebetween constituting the principal restraint against rotation ofsaid friction wheel, a pinion, one-way clutch means interconnecting saidpinion and said friction wheel, a movable rack cooperable with saidpinion, a resilient leaf spring drivingly connected to said frictionwheel. through said rack, pinion, and clutch, and a manually movableactuating element operatively connected to said resilient element andresiliently acting therethrough during the fore portion of advancingmovement of said actuating element to urge advancing movement of saidfriction wheel against the restraining force of the static frictionbetween said friction wheel and said flint, said actuating means havinga portion drivingly acting against said friction wheel through saidrack, pinion and clutch upon completion of the fore portion of advancingmovement of said actuating element to positively rotate said frictionwheel in advancing direction.

3. A flint wheel actuating mechanism for a lighter of the type having aflint, a flint wheel in contact with the flint and rotatable in anadvancing direction to produce sparks, and means yieldingly urging theflint toward the flint wheel and establishing a static frictiontherebetween constituting the principal restraint against rotation ofthe flint wheel, said mechanism comprising a driving element drivinglyconnected to the flint wheel for advancing rotation of the latter, aresilient element drivingly connected to said driving element, amanually movable actuating element operatively connected to saidresilient element and resiliently acting therethrough during the foreportion of advancing movement of said actuating element to urgeadvancing movement of said driving element and advancing rotation of theflint wheel against the restraining force of the static friction betweenthe flint wheel and the flint, and an abutment on the actuating elementon gageable with said driving element upon completion of the foreportion of advancing movement of said actuat ing element to positivelyrotate the flint wheel in advancing direction.

4. A flint wheel actuating mechanism for a lighter of the type having afuel tank, a flint, a friction element in contact with the flint andmovable in an advancing direction to produce sparks, and meansyieldingly urging the flint into engagement with the friction elementand establishing a static friction therebetween constituting theprincipal restraint against movement of the friction element, saidmechanism comprising a movable rack, a pinion meshing with said rack, aone-way clutch drivingly connected between said pinion and the frictionelement for movement of the latter in advancing direction relative tothe flint upon a corresponding advancing movement of said rack, aresilient element drivingly connected to said rack, and a manuallymovable actuating element operatively connected to said resilientelement and resiliently acting therethrough during the fore portion ofadvancing movement of said actuating element to urge advancing movementof said rack, pinion, and friction element against the restraining forceof the static friction between the friction element and the flint, saidactuating element having a portion drivingly engaging the frictionelement upon completion of the fore portion of advancing movement ofsaid actuating element to positively move the friction element inadvancing direction.

5. A flint wheel actuating mechanism for a lighter of the type having arotatable sparking wheel, a flint, and means for urging said flint intoengagement with said sparking wheel whereby the latter is frictionallyrestrained against rotation, said mechanism comprising a pivotallymounted rack, a rotatably mounted pinion meshing with said rack, aone-way clutch connected between said pinion and said sparking wheel, torotate the latter relatively to said flint upon pivotal movement of saidrack in one direction, a fixed guide, an actuating element manuallyslidable in said guide, a leaf spring connected at one end to saidactuating element and at the other end to said rack for pivotally movingthe latter in said one direction upon sliding movement of said actuatingelement through a predetermined distance in a direction toward said rackto flex and store energy in said spring element, the actuating elementbeing restrained from moving the sparking wheel principally by frictionestablished between the sparking wheel and flint, and an abutment onsaid actuating element engageable with said rack to initiate pivotalmovement thereof prior to but only shortly before completion of saidmovement of said actuating element, and overcome the static frictionbetween the friction element and flint whereupon the resilient elementcontinues movement of the driving element at a more rapid rate than thatof the actuating element.

6. In a lighter, a fuel tank, means for conducting fuel from the tank,normally closed valve means in the fuel conducting means, a flint, afriction element in contact with said flint and movable in an advancingdirection to produce sparks and direct them toward fuel issuing fromsaid tank, means yieldingly urging said flint into engagement with saidfriction element and establishing a static friction therebetweenconstituting the principal restraint against movement of said frictionelement, a movable driving element drivingly connected to said frictionelement for advancing movement thereof, a resilient element drivinglyconnected to said driving element, a manually movable actuating memberoperatively connected to said resilient element and resiliently actingtherethrough [during the fore portion of advancing movement of saidactuating member to urge advancing movement of said friction elementagainst the principal restraining force of the static friction betweensaid friction element and said flint, said actuating member having afirst portion engaging said valve means to open the latter in theinitial portion of movement of the actuating member and a second portiondrivingly acting against said friction element upon completion of thefore portion of advancing movement of said actuating member topositively move said friction element in advancing direction, and meansyieldingly urging said actuating member to a retracted position.

7. A lighter comprising a fuel tank, means for conducting fuel from thetank, a flint, a friction element in contact with said flint and movablein an advancing direction to produce sparks and direct them toward fuelissuing from said tank, means yieldingly urging said flint intoengagement with said friction element and establishing a static frictiontherebetween constituting the principal restraint against movement ofsaid friction element, a resilient element drivingly connected to saidfriction element, a manually movable actuating member operativelyconnected to said resilient element and resiliently acting therethroughduring the fore portion of advancing movement of said actuating memberto urge advancing movement of said friction element against therestraining force of the static friction between said friction elementand said flint, and rigid means on said actuating member positioned todrivingly engage said friction element upon completion of the foreportion of advancing movement of said actuating member to positivelymove said friction element in advancing direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,239,801 McAneny Sept. 11, 1917 1,828,887 Aronson Oct. 27, 19312,019,435 Blair Oct. 29, 1935 2,588,231 Gessmann Mar. 4, 1952 2,664,008Gessmann Dec. 29, 1953 2,677,948 Gehrie May 11, 1954 2,681,554 PetersonJune 22, 1954

